Staff
LEXI RIGGS
Owner
Lexi brings more than 14 years of love for the sport of cheerleading and owning a gym has always been her lifelong dream. She found her love for all-star cheerleading in 6th grade and was an athlete on CTA and PA Storm. Lexi has experience with levels 2-5 and has competed at Summit, Worlds, and the NCA College Nationals. She continues to cheer in college while majoring in Child Development and Family Studies at West Virginia University. This is her third year as Captain and President of the Competitive Cheerleading Team at WVU and proudly lead them to the 2018 NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach where they placed 2nd! With a heart to inspire, guide and motivate, Lexi has what it takes to build her athletes and take them to a level that competes with the best in the industry!
PATRICK SMITH
Co-Owner
Patrick has over 20 years of all-star cheer experience and is one of the head Spirit FX stunt and pyramid specialists. He has a keen eye for technicality and is best known for making elite and innovative stunt and pyramid sections look effortless. He cheered at Morehead State University and The State University of West Georgia. During that time, he won several UCA national titles. Patrick’s beliefs and philosophies as a coach and choreographer are about pushing the difficulty and creativity to the highest level possible all while keeping the product sharp and clean. He brings a lot of expertise to our program and is honored to be a part of the ICE Pittsburgh family!
TERRENCE PENDERGRASS
Program Director
Terrence has more than a decade of experience in both collegiate and all-star cheerleading. He was an athlete on International Level 5 teams for More Extreme and Fame All-Stars. Terrence was a coach at Fame All-Stars and a program director at Cheer Elite Stars. Some of his many successes include competing in the advanced division at NCA College Nationals and winning The Cheerleading Worlds in the International Level 6 division. He was an athlete at the University of Louisville on their large coed team and at Virginia Commonwealth University where he was also the team Captain. Terrence brings his expertise and a lot of fun and excitement to our program and is proud to be a part of our ICE Pittsburgh family!
ALYSSA GARBERA
Operations Manager
Alyssa has over a decade of experience as an all-star cheerleader. During that time, she won many national titles but her biggest success was placing in the top 10 at The Cheerleading Worlds. She was a fitness club coordinator and staff accountant before finding her way back to all-star cheer. Alyssa brings her experience in the business world and her love for all-star cheer to our program and she’s thrilled to be a part of the ICE Pittsburgh Family!
KIRA TAUFER
Coach / Class Instructor
Kira has been involved in the world of All-Star cheerleading for over a decade. She started gymnastics at the age of 7 but became a competitive cheerleader and dancer by the age of 9. Kira has experience with levels 2-5 and has competed at both the Dance and Cheerleading Worlds. One of her greatest accomplishments was winning the U.S Finals. Kira previously coached at a gymnastics and cheerleading gym and her eye for detail and execution makes her a great coach. She’s elated to be on this journey with the ICE Pittsburgh family!
BRIANNA FINE
Coach / Class Instructor
Bri brings us 16 years of experience with All-Star cheerleading. After competing for 9 years she began coaching. She is a varsity coach for Elizabeth Forward and an assistant coach for Duquesne University. Brianna also works for UCA and has choreographed state, regional, and national level routines. In college, she was an athlete at Slippery Rock University on their all girl and coed teams. Brianna also competed at the UCA college nationals where she placed in the top 3 and at The Cheerleading Worlds where she placed in the top four. Bri is excited to join one of the best names in the industry!
MADDIE GUILLIAMS-COSTABILE
Coach / Class Instructor
Maddie started cheerleading at the age of 4 and continued all the way through college. She graduated from WVU with a bachelors in social work and currently works as a foster care treatment coordinator while going to graduate school for her masters. She cheered for many all-star programs on level 1-5 teams and was on the WVU competitive cheerleading team for 4 years. Cheerleading has taught her discipline, work ethic, and has given her lifelong friends and memories. She strives to create an environment that fosters your child to learn their own important life lessons, while showing them a sport they can enjoy for many years to come. Maddie loves working with our younger athletes and is proud to lead our tiny teams to a successful season!
ASIA DOVE
Class Instructor
Asia has an extensive cheerleading background in both collegiate and all-star cheerleading.
She has also been an instructor at Camp Woodward PA for the past 3 years. She has competed at The Cheerleading Worlds 8 times and won the Silver medal in 2017! In college, she was an athlete at Stephen F Austin State University on their small and large coed teams. Her teams placed in the top 3 at the NCA College Nationals many times! Asia brings her experience as an athlete and instructor to our program and is elated to join the ICE Pittsburgh Family!
KATY PHILIPEE
Class Instructor
Katy has a passion for cheerleading and tumbling that began in just 3rd grade. She has cheered and tumbled for 13 years total. Katy cheered at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for 2 years and at Robert Morris University for 1 year. She also coached varsity teams at Peters Township High School, Chartiers Houston High School and Canon-McMillan High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has choreographed multiple routines throughout her cheer career for both youth and high school teams. Katy has experience coaching all levels and age groups from 2.5 years old to 18 years old. Katy has been teaching tumbling classes for the past 7 years! It is obvious that her passion is to teach these athletes all she knows about tumbling while focusing on safe and correct technique. She can still tumble which makes it easy to show athletes skills they are working towards. Katy is so excited to continue sharing her passion and love for this sport at ICE Pittsburgh!